Do not make a soup of me
Lover of grubs, lover of tree

Do not make a stew of me
No clothes, no shoes, no finery

Please do not make a fricassee
Feathers and feet and downy

Woodpecker big, woodpecker small
Red cap, no cap, spotted shawl

Do not fell the rotting tree
Home of my hole bird family

Do not make a soup of me
Just drumming my territory

A misty fog mourning, me
Hearing the helpful bird's loud plea

Rhymes of what woodpeckers sing
Up the tree, down the tree, working

This is not fancy, nor long
Just a poor woodpecker's sad song